SHERIDAN SMITH’s romance with David Morrissey goes off the rails in a new BBC drama

His romantic novel One Day was a literary sensation upon its release in 2009. It sold over two million copies, was translated into 37 languages and later adapted for the big screen in a film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

Now British author David Nicholls is turning his talent to television by writing a new two-part drama The 7.39, starring David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith and Olivia Colman.

The story follows two strangers, Carl (Morrissey) and Sally (Smith), who feel their lives are stuck in ruts. Carl is married to his long-time love and best friend, Maggie (Colman), and is the father of two sulky teenagers. Sally, meanwhile, is having doubts about marrying her caring but needy fiancé Ryan (Sean Maguire).

But as Carl and Sally make their miserable daily commute into London on the 7.39 train, an argument over a seat marks the beginning of an unexpected relationship.

“Carl has the same journey every weekday, until one day he has an altercation with a young woman, Sally,” explains David Morrissey, 49. “He loses it slightly and shouts at her because he is in a bad mood. He feels he has to make amends so he seeks her out the following day and apologises, and their friendship develops.

The BBC's new drama follows two strangers who meet on the train while commuting to London [BBC]

“I get sent a lot of scripts, and there is some good stuff but it’s mostly procedural,” David adds. “There’s coppers, doctors, lawyers and always missing kids or dead kids, or women being stalked and serial killers.

"It’s good dramatic stuff, but when I read The 7.39 it was very different. It was real and complex and uncomfortable and it had this domestic aspect to it. What the characters go through is very recognisable for many people.”

Sheridan, 32, agrees that it was impossible to turn down the role of Sally once she read the script and was told who her co-stars were.

“When I found out that David Nicholls had written this piece I was so excited,” she enthuses. “I was hooked, I couldn’t put the script down.

“Then I heard that David Morrissey was going to be playing Carl, and then I found out about Olivia Colman, who is my idol, and gorgeous Sean – it’s just a dream team.”

Olivia is equally enthusiastic about The 7.39, and says the key to its success is the way in which people will be able to identify with the characters, even if they don’t agree with their actions.

“I think if you have a job that doesn’t do it for you, it’s that boredom and repetitive lifestyle that people can relate to,” Olivia, 39, explains. “That’s how affairs come about; they make you feel attractive again, so it is kind of understandable that it happens. The story sort of shows how you need to be aware of what you’ve got and appreciative of each other.”

Sheridan also says that the drama is sure to spark a debate between viewers.

“You go through life and some people never meet that one true love or have that connection with someone.

“It’s really interesting seeing it from different sides. People should definitely tune in.”